Spending your days working in luxury homes is barely feels like a job but sometimes you seek something a little more low key. Low key, luxury resorts are all the rage in Upstate New York and this is where we found ourselves traveling for a fall getaway this past October!

It’s not always easy finding the time to head out of the country for a weekend adventure so staying in the U.S is sometimes a necessity in order to get much needed time away. In October we were in the mood for exactly that! A fall vacation often leads me to thoughts of relaxing evenings around the fire, hikes to enjoy the fall leaves and mornings with nothing but hot coffee and a comfortable bed.

I am always on the look out for new travel hot spots so when I was in search of a fall getaway I was ecstatic to find the unique accomodations that upstate New York had to offer. Being the home design junky I am, I always want to stay somewhere that has character and thought put into the design so I began my search to find the perfect lodging that would fit with the vacation vibe I was going for! I imagined afternoons driving along the winding mountain roads viewing the red and orange leaves scattered across the hills and strong drinks by the fire.

So it was booked from Minneapolis to Albany and then a rental car to take us on our mini road trip around upstate New York. We booked 2 different places to stay, about 3 hours apart and keeping the airport centrally located so we could tour around the area without spending too much time in the car.

Perfect for fall, my first find: The luxury tent sites in Ithaca, NY, Firelight Camps. The best way to enjoy the camping vibe while still having modern luxuries such as a king size bed and daily wine tastings from the local wineries in the finger lake region hosted in the lounge tent! Before check-in we made a pitstop at the local brewery, Ithaca Beer Company, where I tried my first sour beer and soaked up the sun in red adirondacks. Once we arrived at Firelight we enjoyed low key bonfires in the communal area at night and a spa up the road during the day. In the morning we hiked to Buttermilk Falls and took a short drive to the town of Ithaca where we ate at the best little Vietnamese restaurant Saigon Kitchen…and then a second time before heading out of town the next day, the crispy squid is TOO DIE for! There is even a concert area a short walk up the hill from the campsite where well known bands regularly perform, Modest Mouse headlined the weekend we were there!

My pre-vacation searching then led me to find the areas of Upstate New York such as the Catskills, Woodstock and the Hudson River Valley. With the appeal of large luxury resorts such as Mohonk Mountains House, miles of meandering roadways through the mountains and top notch restaurants…I had to go! The Hudson River Valley has become a hot spot for New Yorkers looking to escape the city. Filled with artists, chefs and entrepreneurs who were sick of the hustle of NYC, many of these towns are now home to the small businesses owned by these same people. Art galleries, small home decor shops, bakeries, local distilleries and, of course, amazing restaurants are the appeal to travelers looking for a weekend away.

We got lucky and the weekend we were traveling was the weekend that A Tiny House Resort in South Cairo hosted their grand opening party and we were able to score 2 nights in “The Lux” house after deciding that settling for a day trip to Mohonk was a better idea rather than staying onsight where we would definitely not leave to explore the surrounding areas! Overlooking the river in South Cairo, this modest tiny home featured a coastal decor theme and was nothing less than fantastic! Full kitchen, rainhead shower, quartz countertops, fireplace and direct tv! Plus, the extension of the home to the outside space was perfect with a large concrete patio and fire pit. We spent the first night rocking in the patio chairs that overlooked the river and listening to the silence.

South Cairo is a short drive to a couple of great spots in the upstate region; Hudson, Woodstock & the Catskill Mountains. Hudson was one of the highlights of the trip. We had 2 amazing meals here and spent an evening wandering around town after a long day of hiking in the Catskills. I love a good restaurant and this town has many! Woodstock is a must, it’s a fun day trip to see the culture and people watch in this town! The Catskills run the length of the drive from S. Cairo to Woodstock and it’s easy to turn off the main road and start climbing the mountain to the multiple scenic overlooks, hiking trails and little towns scattered throughout the area. 

Of course, I checked out the real estate in the area and fell in love with a 100 acre farm at the base of the Catskills. It had an old home built in the 1800s and multiple outbuilding that I could see turning into guest houses. Definitely adding update NY to my list of places to have vacation home rentals, I will no doubt return!

Here is a short list of the things I would recommend. Enjoy!

To Do:

Kaaterskill Falls: Dan forgot hiking shoes so he was the guy in flip flops hiking up the steep and rocky trail to the falls….in the light rain. But it was well worth the trip, the falls were amazing and we had fun watching the daring hikers scale the small path around the inside of the waterfall.

Buttermilk Falls: A short but picturesque hike right out your back door at Firelight Camps.

Hudson, NY: Spend time perusing through all of the local shops for art, home decor and local goods. Wm Farmer & Sons is a must for a great dinner and DO NOT MISS the banana cream pie!

Woodstock, NY: You just have to stop, even if its only for an hour. Breakfast at Oriole 9 is fab.u.lous!

Drive Platte Clove Road: It is closed from November to mid April but the scenery is breathtaking!

Saigon Kitchen: Pho and Crispy Squid…all I have to say

Ithaca Beer Company: Relax on the lawn and enjoy the special beer selections on rotation. My fav was the apricot wheat.

To Sleep:

Firelight Camps, A Tiny House Resort & Mohonk Mountain House